Patent GB-457039-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with coupling means for tractor and trailer units of motor vehicles
IPC: B62D53/08
Filed: 1935-05-14
Abstract: 457,039. Vehicle couplings and undercarriages. NORTH, 0. D., 76, Elm Park Mansions, Park Walk, Chelsea, and HUGH, P. G., and SCAMMELL LORRIES, Ltd., 52, High Holborn, both in London. May 14, 1935, No. 14123. [Classes 103 (v) and 108 (ii)] [See also Group XXXIV] The coupling means of an articulated tractor-trailer combination includes a turntable comprising upper and lower substantially circular members or rings resting one upon the other and connected for relative rotation about a vertical axis while being, in addition, rockable to a limited extent one upon the other. In the arrangement shown, the front end 2 of the trailer carries a coupling and supporting assemblage comprising annular turntable plates 3, 7, a transverse bar 14 carrying rollers 16 adapted to ride up ramps 17 on the tractor, automatically retractable supporting wheels 10, a coupling element 20 and brake operating transmission means. The upper turntable plate 3, attached to a hollow transverse frame member 4 of truncated cross-section dipping towards the centre, is provided with a rim 5 adapted to ride in an annular groove 6 in the lower turntable member 7 from which depend brackets 15 carrying the transverse bar 14. The parts are coupled by a vertical pin 42 bolted to a strap 46 embracing the bar 14 and passing through the top of the girder 4 where it is secured by nuts 42a. Between the nuts and the girder are interposed a pair of discs 48, 51 with inclined cam surfaces enabling the connection between the turntable members to be tightened or relaxed. The lower disc 51 is secured to a saddle 52 on the girder. The upper disc is formed with arms 54 one of which is connected by a stirrup and compression spring to a brake operating rod 56 and to the other of which is attached a hand lever 53 riding on an arcuate guide bar 59 with a peg for securing it in position, the arrangement being that when the trailer brakes are hand applied the connection 42 is relaxed, to allow lateral tilting to facilitate coupling operations between tractor and trailer. The axle 13 of the retractable supporting wheels 10 is carried in a pair of arms 12 from the crossbar 14, jointed links 9, 11, between the axle and brackets 8 on the lower turntable, acting in conjunction with a pair of tension springs 36 to hold the wheels in the operative supporting position shown. The position is maintained by notched plates 39 held by springs 41 in engagement with plates 40 on the main arms 12, the plates 39 being pivoted on a cross spindle between the arms of the upper link 9 which is of substantially U-form with a bracing cross member 9a. On the same spindle is mounted a roller 35 which by engagement with an arm or abutment 34 on the tractor causes the wheels 10 to be retracted. Prior to this, the notched plates 39 are retracted by engagement of a U-shaped member 39b rigid therewith, with the lower end of the arm 34. The coupling means comprises a hookshaped fixture 25 on the tractor, and a roller or the like 20 carried by a spring controlled arm or arms 19 on the cross-bar 14. The member 25 comprises a solid nose 21a at the upper end of a pair of vertical arms 21., secured by bolts 22 between a pair of plates 23 welded to a tubular cross-frame member 24, the roller 20 riding up the nose into the recess beyond. A spindle 27, mounted in a forward extension of one of the vertical arms 21 and controlled from the driver's seat, carries a pawl 26 adapted to be rocked in one direction to hold the roller 20 in the recess and in the opposite direction to eject it. A second spindle 31, mounted in the arms 21 and connected to the brake controls on the tractor, carries an arm 28 with a roller 29 adapted to lift a U-shaped saddle member 30 straddling the beam 14, the upper end thereof carrying a collar 41 slidable on the vertical rod 42 and adapted, through an angle lever 43 and link 44 to control the trailer brakes. The bolts 22 mounting the member 21 between the brackets 23 also serve to carry a pair of rearwardly extending side plates 32 between which are mounted the rear abutment bracket 34 and a horizontal plate 33 supporting the saddle member 30 in its approach to the roller 29. Buffers 55 for the rollers 16 cushion the coupling engagement. Specification 409,417, [Group XXXI], is referred to. The Provisional Specification describes an arrangement wherein the annular turntable members are resiliently held together by a cover plate resting on the upper turntable ring and connected by bolts to the lower turntable member, coil springs being interposed between the heads of the bolts and the lower member.